The other day I sat in my office with my cup of coffee and watched the sunrise. It was beautiful. The way I was feeling that morning was not beautiful. I was tired and worn out. As I sat there trying to gain strength for the day, I said, “Lord, I’ve got nothin’.” At that moment, I thought of the day ahead and didn’t know how I was going to pull it off. But there was something inside of me that felt peaceful. It was an odd feeling. Almost as if God was saying, “Finally.”
Now, I know from previous days when I finally surrender and give up my self-effort, that is when God shows up the most. The more I get out of the way, the more powerful the chat I’m having with folks during the day. The more I relax in His sovereignty that He is going to work through me, and I trust Him with the results, the more real counseling is done. Yes, it is a struggle to surrender and rest in Him working through me. There is always the temptation to use my conventional wisdom over His wisdom. I’ve learned that it just makes me more tired, but when I say, “I got nothin',” I’ve got everything.
Maybe you are feeling that way. “You’ve got nothin’.” Nothing left to give. You are tired, worn out, and ready to say, “I’m done.” My encouragement to you is to release and rest in Him to work through you. Give up all self-effort to try to make life work and release your hurt and all of who you are to Him. Yes, it is ironic that the more I give up, the more He fills me, but that is how He works. This is not “give up and don’t try.” It is being more sensitive to His Spirit and obedient to what He calls you to do. It is loving well trusting that He is going to fill you up even if you give it all away. The more we die to ourselves, the more He works through us.
“Come to me all who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28